[smackeyacky]

This is a fundamental misreading of self described “conservatives”. They only pay lip service to economic liberalism because it gives them something to rally around. It’s always been more about prejudice and punishment. If you want proof, look at the shift of the religious aligned conservatives starting in the 1960s who once leaned economically toward social democracy but quickly shifted right when the right started pandering to prejudice.

It’s a worldwide shift, happened across western nations as the left (once a bastion of prejudice) moved toward more progressive ideals.

Self identifying conservatives have never been terribly interested in economics and never will be.